Menke Funeral & Cremation Center

02/17/2026

Mardi Gras (also known as Fat Tuesday or Shove Tuesday) is the last day before Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of the Christian Lenten season. Lent is typically a time of fasting, repentance and almsgiving.

So Mardi Gras is a big party to indulge! And no one throws a Mardi Gras party, called Carnival, like the Big Easy. In New Orleans, you’ll find parades, bead throwing, much revelry, and King Cake.

King Cake is a sweet pastry decorated in the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold with an extra special surprise inside! Custom has it, whoever gets the slice of pastry containing the hidden plastic baby Jesus has to buy the King Cake the next year.

02/14/2026

We’re sending a special valentine to the Great 48th!

On February 14, 1912, Arizona officially became the 48th state in the Union. So celebrate Valentine’s Day by not only showing love to your sweetheart, but a little love for our wonderful state.

02/05/2026

~ Menke Community Corner ~

Sun City Room Spotlight: Genealogy Group

Menke Funeral Director David Hinton facilitates the Genealogy Group that meets regularly in the Menke Sun City Room. He shows you what resources and websites to use and how to unearth the dirt on your family tree. New attendees are welcome to join in the ancestral sleuthing at any time. Just bring your laptop and please RSVP by calling David at (623) 979-6451. The next meeting of the Genealogy Group will be Wednesday, February 11 at 5:00 p.m. in the Menke Sun City Room.

01/29/2026

Plan for the future and register now for the Lunch & Learn on Tuesday, February 3 in the Menke Sun City Reception Room hosted by Nancie Scalercio. Scan the QR Code or call (623) 979-6451.

01/28/2026

Whether you celebrate National Fun at Work Day on January 28, the last Friday in January (1/30/26), or maybe every day, it’s good to take a break from the stress of the workplace and have a bit of fun. Menke staff and their guests enjoyed a festive outing at Desert Farm Lights in Surprise for a fun evening of camaraderie, food, wagon ride and even a candy cane maze.

01/22/2026

On Your Grief Journey ~ Practicing Self-Compassion
As you journey through grief, it's essential to extend the same compassion to yourself that you would to a dear friend facing a similar loss. Self-compassion can prevent you from getting stuck within unresolved grief.
Embracing Self-Kindness: Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, recognizing that grieving is a natural and necessary process. Offer yourself words of comfort and encouragement, acknowledging the strength and resilience it takes to navigate through grief.
Cultivating Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness techniques to stay present with your emotions without judgment. Allow yourself to acknowledge, accept, and feel your emotions as they arise, honoring your individual grief journey.
Seeking Support: Reach out to supportive friends, family members, or a therapist who can offer empathy and understanding. Share your feelings openly and honestly, knowing that you are not alone in your grief, and there’s no shame in expressing your emotions.
Remember, practicing self-compassion is not a sign of weakness but a powerful act of courage, self-care, and healing. Be gentle with yourself as you navigate through grief, knowing that you deserve love and compassion.
If you would like to receive weekly messages like this designed to provide strength and comfort on your grief journey, sign up for our free yearly service, GriefSteps, at www.menkefuneralhome.com.

01/17/2026

When you think of Holland, images of windmills and tulip fields probably come to mind. And for good reason. Tulips are vital to the Netherland’s economy. The Dutch are the world’s leading exporters of tulip bulbs and cut flowers, with billions of tulip bulbs produced annually. National Tulip Day celebrates the start of the Dutch tulip growing season.

01/13/2026

Veterans are invited to join us for an Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday, January 22, in the Menke Sun City Reception Room at 11:00 a.m. You will also learn about veterans benefits, social security information, funeral preplanning options and fraud alerts. Please RSVP to (623) 979-6451.

01/08/2026

~ Menke Community Corner ~

Here’s a little history of how the Menke Reception Hall and Sun City Room came to be.

In February of 1977, the building that was originally the United States Post Office for Sun City was purchased. Later that year, on October 17th, Menke Funeral Home opened and was the only funeral home located in Sun City.

In 1986, the smaller building next door, which at one time was a storage area for a local furniture store, was purchased by Menke Funeral Home and named the Sun City Room.

Since that time, the building has had two rooms for public use:

Menke Reception Hall – This room has a partial kitchen area in it to accommodate families who want a reception after their loved one’s services or a more relaxed memorial within the hall itself in combination with a reception.

The Menke Sun City Meeting Room – Menke Funeral Home makes this room available to various Sun City civic and community groups or clubs to use at no charge. These clubs sign a contract with the understanding that they may be preempted on short notice if the space is needed for a Menke service or event.

A few of the organizations that regularly use the Menke Sun City Room include the American Legion, the Rotary Club, and two TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) groups.

12/31/2025

12/23/2025

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Menke Staff: (l-r) Julie Kochenash, Nancie Scalercio, Joel Wuddel, Robert Zimmerman, Athziry Valenzuela, Macartney Aguilar, David Hinton, Vicki Jasperson, Cherie Digby, Kelly Browder. (Not pictured: Susan Molina, Jan Sidla and Jim Walker.)

12/16/2025

Menke Holiday Service of Remembrance

The annual “Holiday Service of Remembrance” was held on Saturday, December 13, 2025, by Menke Funeral & Cremation Center to celebrate the lives of the loved ones of families served throughout the year. The event was designed to support those facing the holidays for the first time without their loved ones, offering a sense of community and remembrance. A commemorative video paid tribute to those being remembered.

Menke General Manager Kelly Browder welcomed the families and introduced Chaplain David Kaminski from Hospice of the Valley, who led the service. Musical selections were performed by Karin Gunderson (harp and vocals), joined by Menke Receptionist/Admin Vicki Jasperson for a rendition of “Silent Night.”

During the ceremony, Funeral Director Rob Zimmerman, assisted by Funeral Director David Hinton and Continuous Care Specialist Nancie Scarlercio, presented each family with a candle ornament as their loved one’s name was read aloud. Families placed these ornaments on the memorial tree, after which the room was darkened except for the illuminated tree, creating a reflective atmosphere for the performance of “Angels Among Us.”

The service concluded with a prayer emphasizing peace, strength, and hope for the journey ahead. Families were invited to take their candle ornaments home as keepsakes. Following the ceremony, light refreshments were served in the Menke Sun City Room, and guests enjoyed a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.